Tigers' Al Avila denies Dan Gilbert sale rumors

Posted Sep 30, 2018

Ilitch Holdings President Christopher Ilitch speaks after unveiling the name of the new Red Wings arena, which will officially be called the Little Caesars Arena. The naming rights are part of a 20-year, $125 million deal which was announced during a press conference Thursday at the arena construction site, April 28, 2016. The 785,000-square-foot arena is expected to be completed by the start of the 2017-2018 NHL season. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit) MLive.com Detroit

MILWAUKEE -- Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila said he knew of no plans by controlling owner Christopher Ilitch to sell the team.

Recent speculation has focused on Dan Gilbert, a Detroit native who owns the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and has invested heavily in downtown Detroit, as an interested buyer.

Ilitch, 53, became president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings and controlling owner of the Tigers and NHL's Detroit Red Wings upon the death of his father Michael in 2017.

Ilitch has said repeatedly that he plans to keep the Tigers under his family's ownership for the long-term future.

"To my knowledge nothing like that is going on," Avila said during a chat with reporters at Miller Park. "I can tell you that Chris Ilitch, since the day I've been here, has told me that he's committed to being the owner of this team 100 percent for the long term."

Avila said Ilitch has been an engaged owner who has attended the draft and visited the team's facilities in Latin America.

"He's been nothing but supportive of giving us the necessary means of being able to develop players," he said.